MSU’s Mullen has Manziel on mind for top 20 showdown

COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M women’s basketball coach Gary Blair, a modern day Shelby Metcalf or Abe Lemons, was visiting with folks today during a women’s hoops luncheon when he mentioned the stunning early success of Aggies freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel.

“‘Johnny Football’ is doing great things,” Blair said, according to a post on the A&M women’s basketball Twitter account. “I just wish he had a sister.”

Football does, but fairly certain she’s not a blue-chip hoopster. Another man with Manziel on his mind right now is Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, whose defense will try and defend the Heisman Trophy candidate starting 11 a.m. Saturday in Starkville, Miss.

The 6-2 Aggies are 16th in the latest BCS rankings while 7-1 MSU is one slot ahead at 15th.

“You’re going to have to play very sound, and you’re going to have to tackle in the open field,” Mullen said on this week’s SEC teleconference. “They have a lot of talent, and not just at quarterback. They have very talented running backs, big, fast receivers and a lot of mismatch problems.

“They’re going to try and spread you across the field and create those matchups for their talent.”

Manziel, who in aside dressed as Scooby Doo (Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin did say ‘Get a dog’ in the offseason) for Halloween, leads the SEC in rushing (99 ypg), total offense (376 ypg) and scoring (9.8 ppg). Mullen was asked if defenders should “fly” after Manziel or stay disciplined.

“All of the above,” Mullen said. “You’re just going to have to play great defense. If you give him all day to stand back there and throw the ball, he’ll throw and beat you with his arm. If you give him open spaces, he’ll take off and beat you with his legs.